Electromechanical door engine and unitary push control



Dec. 6, 1927.

G. W. MEYERS ELECTROMECHANICAL DOOR ENGINE AND UNITARY PUSH CONTROL Filed May 6. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 0 7 4 BY flu; ATTORNEYS Q Dec. 6, 192 7. I

F iled May 6, 1922 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY 4 ATTORNEYJ G. w. MEYE RS ELECTROMECHANICAL DOOR ENGINE AND UNITARY PUSH CONTROL Dec. 6, 1927. 1,651,959

Filed May 6, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 a s \w INVENTOR BY Z. ATTORNEYJ M 9L Dec. 6,

cs. w. MEYERS ELECTROMECHAN ICAL DOOR ENGINE AND UNITARY PUSH CONTROL Filed May 6, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 i O p INVENTOR w -w gu fvw BY 4 ATTORNEYJ 1 Patented Dec. 6, 1927.

, UNITEDfSTATES enonon w. mamas, or nanw'aY,nnw.rnnsnY, assrenon 'ro NATIONAL rimU- ua'rro comranr. or imw Yonx, -n., 12.. a conronarron or wns'r vmomm ELECTROMEGHANICAL ENGINE AND UNITARY PUSH CONTROL.

Application filed Maya, 1922. Serial No. 559915.

This invention relates to door operating engines and to a control system therefor, whereby, from a unitary structure or double push button, the guard or operator has constant and full control of the operatmg mechanism and movements of the doors.

A further object of my invention lncludes the provision of an efficient but simple speed reducin and motion converting mechanism to for uti izing' the rotary motion of electric motors, or similar structure, for the opening and closing of doors.

Another object includes the provision of speed reducing and motion converting mechw anism, which is simple in construction and positive and reliable in operation.

Further objects include the provision of flexible connections between the prime mover and the motion reducing mechanism, and

22 means for manually operating the doors under certain conditions, 7

A still further object includes the provision of means for maintaining the fields of several electric'motors associated in series constantly energized, and means for controlling the movements of the armatures of said motors. v

Other objects will appear hereinafter, and I attain these objects by the mechanism and construction illustrated in the accompanying drawingyin which Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of one form of my electromechanical door operating ans5 Fig. 2 is a view of the same, partly in section, taken on lines 2-2 of Fig. 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows;-

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the'speed reducing mechanism; Fig. 4,is a view taken on the lines 44= of'Flg. 3; I

' Fig. 5 is a view of the push button unit taken on the lines 55 of Fig. 6; i Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the lines 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the lines 77 of Fig. 5;

' Fig. 8 is a plan ,of connections on terminal block; and

Fig. 9 is a view largely diagrammatic showing the relation of the armature circuit, the control circuit and the vautomatic door trip.

Similar numerals refer to like parts in & the several views.

It is among the special objects of my invention to provide exceedingly simple speed reducing and motion convertin mechanism, which is operable by equally sln'aple circuits and-control means for controlling the operating motor from a single unitary operating device.

The speed reducing mechanism consists substantially of a worm, two gears, two pinions and a housing in which the pinions and gears operate, and which housing also serves as a lubricating chamber.

The prime mover may be an electric motor, in which case the motor is usually one of several shunt wound motors operating from the power line, and mounted in series to the proper number, compatible with the capacity of the motors and the line voltage. In such arrangement, and for most eflicient and instant service, the fields of these motors are constantly excited, and are independent of the control circuit, as will be described more. fully below.

A preferred form of my driving en e,

and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, may inc ude a prime mover 10, a suitable worm gear 11 within a housing 12, a speed reducing gear train carried in a housing 13, door travel limiting mechanism 14, operating within a casing 15, all carried asa unit ma frame 16, which may be mounted on a base 17.

The prime mover may be an electric motor of the type named above, in which case the armature is mounted and rotates in either direction. The worm gear drive 11 is mounted directly on the armature shaft 18, and is provided with a proper friction clutch 19, which is tensioned by the tension set-nut 20, and the friction adjustment spring 21, within housing 22. A ball bearing 23 permits free rotary movement, as is well understood. Thrust bearings 24:, 24, at either end of the worm gear, take up the thrust in either direction, as may be required by the rotating dlrection of the armature shaft.

A worm gear 26 meshes with the drive worm 11, and this gearvis fastened onto an enlargement of the hollow drive shaft 27. T1118 shaft extends through a fixed partition wall 28, into the reducing gear chamber 29, and carries a drive pinion 30. An idler pinion 31, is mounted on the fixedpartition 28, and meshes with the drive pinion 30 on the one side, and on the other, with an internally toothed spur gear 32, which is securely fastened onto a rotatively mounted cup-member 33. This member is provided with an extension 34, which, in turn, is provided with a clutch 35 for engaging a similar structure on the head 36 of the release shaft 37. A main drive plate 39 is secured to the head of the release shaft, in any suitable manner, as by a key 38, and a door operating lever 40 is secured to the main drive plate The opposite end of the release shaft 37 is provided with a manually operable handle 41, and a spring 42, in recess 43, normally holds the clutch members 35 in place. Under normal conditions, the drive motor operates the door lever 40 back and forth, as the armature rotates in either direction, thereby causing a door or doors (not shown) to open and close as may be desired. In case of an emergency, however, as when the current is off, to open the doors the guard merely applies -handle 41 in place, depresses'the shaft against spring 42 to release clutch 35, under which conditions the doors may be opened or closed by hand.

From the description thus given, it is clear that the doors are opened and closed by and in accordance with the direction of the motor armature, and, for the purpose of limiting these movements, an automatic door travel limiting mechanism is required. This limiting mechanism 14 comprises a pair of circuit breakers 44, having arms 45, pivotally mounted at 46, for being disengaged by the limit finger 47 which travels back and forth with the drive shaft. Adjustment screws 47' are-provided for varying the range of the limiting mechanism. To positively close the circuits at 44, springs 48 are provided.

It is further also clear that the friction clutch or friction cone 19 permits the armature to rotate, should the door or doors meet an obstruction. This provision will constantly guard against injury to motor, or to.

the operating mechanism and to the late passenger.

As stated above, the operating mechanism is effectively controlled from asingle unit, which I have elected to illustrate as a twobutton push switch, when said unit is operated in connection with the control circuit, illustrated for example in Fig. 9. This switch comprises two separate push buttons 50 and 51, for closing the-respective circuits 00 or CO, thus energizing the respective coils 52 or 53, and causing the armature to rotate in the corresponding direction, as is well understood. In order to guard against prematurely depressing the second button, after the first button has beendepressed, that is, prematurely reversing the current before the limit switch has been operated by the limit finger 47, and has broken the operating circuit, I have provided a safety bar 54 which is pivotally supported at 55, and operated by push rods 56 or 57 from push buttons 50 and 51. From this construction it is evident that,

ordinarily, the circuit cannot he accidentally reversed, and both switches can never be closed simultaneously. In case of emergencies, however, it is possible to cause a reversal by giving the corresponding button an extra hard push, thereby opening the operating circuit as the reverse circuit is closed. Since, as stated above, the fields 58 of the motor, or series of motors, are on a separate circuit from the operating or armature circuit, and as these fields are constantly excited, an immediate response of the armature accompanies any interruption or reversal in the armature circuit. And where the operating circuit is broken, as when the door limit switch is opened by the limit finger, the armature comes to a quick stop due to the electric brake effect on the armature.

As a further provision for the safety of passengers, the door may be brought to a quick stop by my automatic door trip mechanism 59, operating an automatic circuit breaker 60, for interrupting the armature circuit. This circuit breaker is operated by a pneumatic plunger 61, sliding up or down on head 62 of the door tripping mechanism. This trip mechanism may be carried on the door, and has connected to it, by suitable fastenings, as wiring 63, a collapsible tube 64. This tube may extend along the ex posed edge of the door, and when said tube is compressed, as by striking a passenger entering or leaving the car, a slight blow on the tube will cause the air in the tube to displace member 61, and to open the circuit at 60. When the door trip opens the armature circuit, the magnet de-energizes and releases the push button on the closing side.

This system of control admits of great flexibility of operation. insures safety to passengers, and is quickly responsive to mani ulations of the operator or guard.

ile I have disclosed a specific embodiment of my invention, I do not thereby desire to be understood as thus unduly limitin myself. What I claim, therefore, as new an useful, of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Ina door operating engine, a rime mover, and an extended axis there or, a motion ransmitting device flexibly mounted on said axis, a speed reducing mechanism comprising a plurality of members mounted to rotate on a common axis at right angles to the axis of rotation of said prime mover, and means for limiting the rotation within a prescribed arc for one of said members.

2. In a door operating engine, a prime mover, and an extended axis therefor, a motion transmitting device flexibly mounted on said axis, a speed reducing mechanism comfixedly holding said gear members and said n automatically limiting the duration of motion of said prime mover.

3. In a motion converting and speed re ducing mechanism, a worm gear and a plurality of spur gears, all mounted coaxially and rotatively, an idler gear mounted fixedly and co-ordinating with a plurality of said spur gears for causing reduced motion to be transmitted to one of said spur gears, means for rotating said worm gear in either direction and means for limiting the motion of one of said gears.

4. In a motion converting and speed reducing mechanism, a worm gear and a plurality of spur gears, all mounted coaxially and rotatively, an idler gear mounted fixedly and co-ordinating with a lurality of said spur gears for causing re uced motion to be transmitted to one of said spur gears, and means for limiting the motion of one of said %ur gears within the arc of a circle.

a motion converting and speed redueing mechanism, a worm gear and a plurahty of spur gears, all mounted eoaxially and rotatively, an idler gear mounted fixedly and co-ordinating with a plurality of said spur gears for causing reduced motion to be transmitted to one of said spur gears, means for rotating said gears in either direction, and means for automatically stopping the movement of said gears in a given direction.

6. In a motion converting and speed reducing mechanism, a worm gear and a plurality of spur gears, all mounted coaxially and rotatively, n idler gear mounted fixedly and co-ordinating with a plurality of said spur gears for causing reduced motion to be transmitted to one of said spur gears, means for rotatin said gears in either direction, automatic imitingi means for maintaining said rotations wit in predetermined limits, and means for interruptin said rotation at an point within said limits.

testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 4th day of May, A. D., 1922.

GEORGE W. MEYERS. 

